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Hi everybody it’s time for your Land and Livestock Report here on the Ag Information Network of the West-I’m Russell Nemetz.

According to The Fence Post, following five hours of remote and on-location testimony, HB18-1043, known as the Beef Country of Origin Recognition System or COORS bill, died in committee on a 10-3 vote.

Republican Rep. Kimmi Lewis, a cattlewoman from southeastern Colorado, sponsored the bill after the repeal of the national COOL program in 2015. The bill would have amended the Colorado Food and Drug Act to require Colorado retailers to indicate, through a placard on the meat case, the country of origin of beef sold.

Proponents of the bill testified to the advantage American cow calf producers would have through the placard labeling of their product, the simplicity of doing so, the added security for consumers, and consumers' demand for such placard labeling identifying U.S. beef.

In her introduction, Lewis presented data suggesting that beef prices were higher during the two years in which COOL existed and consumers were presented with the choice to purchase beef labeled as American. She pointed out that lower beef prices and the repeal of the national COOL program coincided.